Transkei- Friday 23rd-Monday 26th November

Transkei - Friday 23rd - Monday 26th November
After popping back home for Thursday to do some washing and stocking up we headed off to the Transkei at 4h30 on Friday morning. We drove down to the Mdumbi turnoff where we met Eric, Gill & their kids. From here Grant drove on to Mdumbi and Eric took the rest of us to start our hike at Presley Bay. Quite hectic roads but Grant & Bushwakka did really well.
We started to hike at about 10h00 and the kids did so well as it took us a leisurely 4 and a half hours to get to Mdumbi. WOW!!! The scenery, vegetation and landscape is so beautiful and this was a definite highlight for all of us.

Grant had to do some tricky reverse parking into campsite but we arrived to everything being set up and the most beautiful setting. We had a great braai in the evening with the kids playing with the other kids in the campsite and having a blast.

Saturday morning the kids elected to stay with the dads and have a beach day surfing and swimming as Gill & I headed off into the hills.
We really had the most amazing walk and the photographic opportunities are so abundant that I really want to find out how to use my camera to it's full potential. We got to the Mthatha river and although we were told there is a ferry that you can take to the other side for R10, we could not see anyone. Fortunately there were some fisherman in the mouth of the river that gave us a ride across. I think if we had hung around eventually the ferryman would have appeared. The other rivers that we had had to cross up until now had been manageable, with the kids having to swim but us able to walk with bags above our heads.
The morning had started off quite misty and in the distance we saw silhouettes which as we got closer were these stunning local ladies carrying bundles of wood on their head.

Soon after the river we had to head up a steep hill and towards one of the little villages heading towards Coffee Bay. Some of the local dogs decided that I made quite a tasty treat and took two little nips out of my calf. After Gill patched me up, we headed on towards the Mpuzi River through a coastal forest which a local boy guided us to.

When we arrived in Coffee Bay, we found an awesome little spot where they make an awesome takeaway cappuccino and delicious homemade bread. After these purchase we walked up the hill drinking our cappucino towards White Clay. Whew! When I saw the hill going down, I couldn't believe how Grant had got down their in the truck, but what a magical place. We spent a good portion of the afternoon watching the dolphins playing in the waves right in front of the campsite. Late afternoon we headed off in the Harris' car to watch rugby and get a pizza at Pappagelos.

The most delicious homemade ice-creams to be found at the above little spot. It soon bacame mandatory to never pass without stopping and trying out a new flavour.

On Sunday morning Gill, Mitch & I headed off for our last hike to Hole in the Wall. The others stayed back to surf and were going to pick us up later.

View of truck from hills heading towards Coffee Bay

Over the hill and faraway..... Mitch became very concerned at one point that we were going to be hijacked & taken to live in a village. After a few too many people offered to guide us, we had headed a tad too far inland, we adopted the services of a local who led us back onto the coastal track. We really got to see the most amazing views and were showed where the, "baby" Hole in the wall was.

"Baby Hole in the Wall"

Oupa en Ouma sit op die......

The rest of the gang met us at Hole in the Wall and then we headed back to Coffee Bay where the kids had an awesome time surfing and playing on the beach.

Big Hole in the Wall

Heading down to beach at Coffee Bay

Enjoying their surf

Monday morning we decided to drive to Mpuzi River and try and hike the cliffs to find the elusive cliff jumping. Well we hiked and hiked and hiked some more. We saw beautiful scenery but alas, we did not find the cliff jumping. We decided that this was more than a good enough reason to return. So we headed back to Coffee Bay for our last swim/surf and then back to White Clay to pack up the van & head up the very steep hill and home to East London.

We will definitely be returnin....





Jeffreys Bay/P.E-Monday 19th-Thursday 22nd November

Jeffreys Bay/P.E - Monday 19th - Thursday 22nd November
After leaving Nieu Bethesda we headed to P.E. to say hi to the Browns and goodbye to Donna before her trip to Australia. From here we headed to Jeffreys Bay where we set up at the caravan park and then went to find an early supper. We found the most amazing little restaurant with the HUGEST bowls of pasta. Aimee provided fantastic entertainment by dancing around the table.
Tuesday morning was an awesome day and we headed off to the beach and later hit the factory shops where Aimee made tidy work of spending all of her birthday money.

Wednesday morning we went for a cycle to have breakfast at Nina's and then went for our last swim/surf and packed up and headed to P.E. We spent the afternoon at Pine Lodge swimming and playing tennis and then headed up to visit the cousins at Grant & Michelle.
Grant & I had the night off as the kids stayed at the Brown's and we went out for supper at John Dory.

Nieu Bethesda-Saturday 17th-Monday 19th November

Nieu Bethesda-Saturday 17th-Monday 19th November
We arrived in Nieu Bethesda at about lunchtime and parked the truck in Guy & Karen's garden. What a small piece of paradise they have here. The Karoo landscape is amazingly beautiful in a very striking way. Blue, blue skies and stunning landscape, the most amazing roses seem to be growing in every garden like weeds.

We went for a drive to the local Brewery and tried out their honey beer and homemade cheeses. After this we visited the famous Owl House and found out about the interesting life of Helen Martins.

Later on in the afternoon the kids played around in the garden and had great fun on the foofie slide and made friends with Guy and Karen's nieces and nephews and went to play tennis with them at the country club.

On Sunday morning we went for a cycle around town and then went to look at the Fossil Museum in town and later on for a drive up towards the Sneeuberg Mountains, some really stunning views and lovely bird life.
On Sunday evening we had a lovely braai with David, Bonny & family and really enjoyed their warm hospitality.
Monday morning arrived and we packed up and headed off to Port Elizabeth to say hello and goodbye to the Brown's and then on to Jeffreys Bay.

Graaff Reinet- Friday 16th & Saturday 17th November

Graaff Reinet-Friday 16th & Saturday 17th November

Drive up to viewpoints on Valley of Desolation in Camdeboo National Park

I had forgotten how beautiful Graaff Reinet is. The town is so clean with all the jacaranda trees in full blossom. We had lunch at a lovely little spot in town and then had a little rest in the truck under the trees before heading to William and Cathy's house. We spent the afternoon swimming and playing at their house before heading off to take a drive up to the Valley of Desolation where we had sundowners and snacks. Beautiful views looking back on the town and being able to see how it is built in the shape of a horseshoe. We finished off the evening with a braai at the Pringles house.

Looking back over town

On Saturday morning the kids went up to Union Primary School to play some tennis before we left to go to Nieu Bethesda. Really beautiful school with stunning setting of the mountains in the background.

Mountain Zebra National Park

Mountain Zebra National Park- Wednesday 14th & Friday 16th November

It has been a hectic couple of months and we are finally back on the road. Travelled through to Mountain Zebra and arrived at about lunchtime. Really hot Karoo weather and so we headed to the pool and chilled out around the campsite.
On Thursday morning we went for a game drive and although we didn't see any cheetah we were lucky enough to see lots of other game. We stopped at the watering hole and sat on top of the truck wathching the comings & goings of the animals & having an awesome picnic.

On Friday morning Mitch & I headed off for a run which turned out to be more of a walking hike. We came across some really huge baboons & were deciding weather to retrace our steps but then they moved off. We were able to carry on and were rewarded with some really beautiful views from the top. Another hot day, so after a cool down swim in the pool we packed up and headed to Graaff Reinet to visit William, Cathy, James & Anna Pringle.